Chamber News: Being Mindful of the Awe in Our Lives

We are so fortunate to live in this piece of paradise. It truly is so beautiful in this part of New Mexico.

I wonder though if we take the time to be mindful of the awe that we experience in our day to day lives. For myself, I never want to take my life for granted. I want to see the world around me through the eyes of a child.

We can be wowed by the beautiful nature that surrounds us, by the people that inspire us, or by something lovely as a wonderful piece of art. However, we need to be aware of all that is around us or we will certainly miss out on those moments that we are awed.

I want to encourage us all to connect to the people in our lives that demonstrate courage, kindness or skill and appreciate them for the way they inspire us. Let’s take it a step further and tell them how they make us feel. We will then begin to build each other up, spread a spirit of kindness and truly be awed by the people in our worlds.

Another thought would be to take an “Awe Walk.”

This involves going somewhere that has the potential to evoke awe—even if it’s your own backyard, approach it with fresh eyes, and take in the scenery as if it’s for the first time. Even well-worn routes can reveal unexpected sources of awe if you’re paying attention.

Read a good book, check out some of the great art that we have around us, eat a fabulous meal, watch a breathtaking sunrise or sunset, enjoy the company of a good friend and remember to be mindful of your experience. That is how we can continually be awed by life itself.

Last but not least, together we can make this a better place to live, work and play.

We can make it awesome.

Becky Brooks is the executive director of the Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce.